Air France flight to Detroit diverted after Ebola-related journey restriction

A tipster on Local 4’s Help Desk alerted us to an Air France flight sure for Detroit that was diverted to Canada after U.S. authorities barred it from getting into American airspace.

On Wednesday (May 20), a passenger who had not too long ago traveled from the Democratic Republic of Congo was reportedly on board.

Air France Flight AF378 departed Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport round 4 p.m. native time en path to Detroit Metropolitan Airport earlier than being redirected to Montreal-Trudeau International Airport, the place it was anticipated to land Wednesday night time, according to EuropeSays.com.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection confirmed the diversion in an announcement, saying the airline mistakenly boarded a passenger topic to U.S. entry restrictions associated to issues about Ebola publicity.

Air France boarded apassenger from the Democratic Republic of Congo in error on a flightto the United States.

Due to entry restrictions put in place to scale back the chance of the Ebola virus, the passenger mustn’t have boarded the airplane.

CBP took decisive motion and prohibited the flight carrying that traveler from touchdown at Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport, and as a substitute, diverted to Montreal, Canada.

CBP, in coordination with CDC, is taking the required measures to guard public well being and scale back the chance of Ebola illness introduction into the United States.”

CBP spokesperson

A passenger on board the Boeing 777-200 said pilots informed travelers that U.S. authorities would not allow the aircraft to land in Detroit.

The passenger also said flight attendants were wearing masks and referenced concerns about a virus.

The flight carried up to 312 passengers, including travelers booked through a Delta Air Lines codeshare agreement with Air France.

CDC order, Ebola outbreak prompt travel restrictions

The diversion comes days after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued an emergency order restricting entry for most non-U.S. citizens who had recently been in the Democratic Republic of Congo, South Sudan, or Uganda amid concerns over an Ebola outbreak.

Under the order, enacted Monday, U.S. citizens, nationals, and lawful permanent residents are still permitted to enter the country after travel to those nations.

Most foreign nationals, however, are barred if they have been in those countries within the previous 21 days.

Health officials raised concerns following confirmation that a U.S. doctor treating Ebola patients in Congo tested positive for the Bundibugyo strain of the virus earlier this month.

The doctor was evacuated to Germany for treatment.

According to the World Health Organization, there are currently no approved vaccines or specific treatments for the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola.

Previous outbreaks involving the strain have had fatality rates ranging from 30% to 50%.

Air France routes, codeshare connections

Air France does not operate direct flights to the countries named in the CDC order, but it does serve Kinshasa, in the neighboring Republic of Congo, near the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Representatives for Air France, Delta Air Lines, the CDC, and Montreal-Trudeau International Airport have been contacted for remark.